Canvas Storage "Bucket"

I promise I'm not turning into an anthropologie knockoff blog (altho...would that really be such a bad thing??)

Fell hard for this storage basket from the anthro site this weekend:

chevron pop canvas basket

Something that's actually an easy-to duplicate project.  If you're not at all familiar with creating a pattern for something like this by hand, there are several tutorials on the internets. This one looks good and even has measurements.

The anthro basket isn't horribly priced, but who knows about the fabric quality. When you make your own, you can customize the fabric and quality (and this project wouldn't take much fabric either, so you could invest in the good stuff).

There are lots of canvas and twills at Fabric.com. Love love love this one (and bonus! it matches my bathroom cabinet):

waverly sand art

I still haven't sewn a seam yet this month. But hey! There are a few more days left in January. It could happen.  I need to clean and oil my machine first. Poor baby.

Anthropologie Knockoff Alert: BurdaStyle 2/14 #111

I was browsing Anthropologie this morning (normal Saturday morning event) and noticed this charmer:

flutter sleeve tee

Which is practically a dead ringer for tee #111 in BurdaStyle's February issue:

Tee #111 also has a dress version, so you could lengthen it to match the Anthro top. I think I actually prefer the square neckline and raglan sleeve of the BurdaStyle tee, but if you really like the yoke/sleeve combo thing of the Anthro top, the same issue also has this top, Tee #137 in the Plus section:

Combine the two and presto-chango-voila! Knockoff.

I'm still planning my next project (MY FIRST PROJECT OF 2014!), but I'm leaning heavily toward the Colette Hawthorn:

I definitely plan on the top version at some point, and it will most assuredly be in a polka dot (swoon!) but I really love the dress and I have no idea what stash fabric will end up being used, but I'll keep you posted.

At some point I should probably finish the Colette Crepe I have started too. Hey, it's only a year after I started it. :P

Happy weekend sewing!

Skirt Pattern Investigation

Bet y'all thought I was never going to mention sewing again, huh??

I was so excited to get my February Burda Style magazine (the real one, not the US knockoff) because of THE BACK COVER!!!

It features this skirt in the red lace overlay version:

What can I say? That skirt speaks to me. Lace overlay. Casual chic chambray. Swishy half circle goodness. Shaped almost yoke waist. *love*

Unfortunately I can't find it on the Simplicity.com site, but I found it on this German site. I'm not sure if that means it's an old pattern or a new pattern? I'm hoping new so I can pick it up! Because I also love that center view, the red & white wide stripes! (Reminds me of a Kate Spade skirt from a couple of years ago).

If I can't find it, I'm fairly certain I can wing this one on my own though. Finding the lace will probably be the hardest part! But mmmm-hmmm, I am certainly going to give it my best shot.

What's in your sewing basket for (not even close yet) spring??